In a surprising turn of events at the Knesset Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee, Chair MK Yuli Edelstein decided not to hold a vote on a bill extending the cutoff age for reservists by three months. The bill aims to prevent a mass release of soldiers during war by extending the age limits for service. However, legal challenges and concerns about the haredi manpower pool have made the bill controversial.
Despite the urgency of the IDF’s operational needs, Edelstein chose not to push for a vote on the bill, casting doubt on its passage before the June 30 deadline. This means that reservists reaching the cutoff age may no longer be required to continue serving starting July 1. Edelstein emphasized the need for consensus in the committee, stating, “Either we all reject the IDF’s request, or we all agree on something. I have no personal, party, or coalition interest to pass it. Either we agree on something, or we do not, but we are all together.”